Target mechanism



June 1, 1937. B, RADTKE ET AL 2,082,218

TARGET MECHANISM Filed Nov. 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l THE/'R ATTORNEY.

B. RADTKE ET AL June l, 1937.

` TARGET MECHANISM 2 sheet-sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2o, 193e Earl Gosswiller and rano Radje 1NVENTOR5 THUR ATTORNEY.

Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE TARGET MECHANISM Application November 20, 1936, Serial No. 111,836

7 Claims.

This invention relates to target mechanisms, and has among its important objects a provision of a target structure including arotatable member with target characters delineated thereon and light-transmitting areas therethrough, together with a photo-cell movably mounted behind the target member in a path substantially across the path of the light-transmitting areas, and means for moving the target member and the photocell in timed relation so that the two are in operative relationship at a particular instant of time.

A more particular object is the provision of a rotatable target-bearing member having a plurality of target characters delineated thereon and each character having a light-transmitting area, and means for supporting a photo-sensitive device behind a target member for movement into and out of position relative to the light-trans-A mitting areas, together With power-driven mechanism for driving the movable member and the photo-cell supporting means in timed relation in such manner that as each target character is brought into View and reaches a determined position, the photo-sensitive device will be in a critical position in which it may be struck by a light flash from an electric gun.

Other and more specific objects of operation and function Will appear as the following description proceeds in view of the drawings, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one form of the target .structure, illustrated in use with a light gun.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section along lines 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the target housing and rotatable target member, taken along lines 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail of the adjustable photo-cell housing;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the target mechanism, as seen along lines 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective 45 of the movable cell support and driving means therefor; While Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram. While the target mechanism of our invention is not restricted to use with light guns, it is es- 50 pecially suitable for such purpose, and in the preferred embodiment shown is utilized in conjunction with an amusement target apparatus of the type having a gun adapted to emit a iiash of light upon the operation of the trigger, and 55 having a moving target and a photo-cell associated with the target and adapted to be struck by a light flash-from the gun to operate a signal or other instrumentality and indicate that a hithas been made. l

In the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown for example in Fig. 3, the target structure includes a suitable housing I0 in which .isv rotatably mounted a target disc I2 on Which arev delineated a plurality of target characters or ducks I4, I5, I6, and Il', and each of these characters is provided with a light-transmitting aperture I4', I5', I6', and I'I, respectively, through which light may pass to the region behind the disc I2.

As seen in Fig. 2, a vertical partition I8 is provided in the housing behind the target disc I2, and the. latter rotates upon a shaft 2U to which the disc is secured by means of a pair of hub members 2| and 22, the shaft extending rear- Wardly of the partition I8 through a bracket 24 for engagement with a driven gear 26. The gear 26 is meshed with a driving Worm 28 on a universal connecting rod 30 journaled at one extremity in a bracket 24 (Fig. 5), and drivingly connected with the speed reducer unit 32 of the driving motor 34. This arrangement is effective to provide for a relatively slow rotation of the disc to bring the individual target characters into view With'a speed which will permit the marksman to take a fair aim.

Behind the target disc and the supporting panel I8 is a pair of supporting rails 36 carrying at one extremity a photo-cell housing 38 (Fig. 4), and at their opposite extremities these rails are pivoted on a'stud shaft 40 secured between the opposite arm portions 4I and 42 of a bracket 43. Intermediate their extremities, the rails 36 are provided with a driving arm 44 having an angled portion 45 strapped across the rails and secured thereto by any suitable means, such as spot Welding or the like. The driving arm 44 is adapted to be connected With a cam-driven arm, toy be described in detail hereafter, so as to pivot the rails 36 about the pin 40, and cause the photo-cell housing to be reciprocated substantially along a vertical path which is substantially radial to the disc shaft 20, and in order to permit light passing through the target disc to reach the photocell, the partition I8 is provided with an elongated vertically extensive slot or Window I9 positioned to correspond to the path of reciprocation of the cell housing.

The cell housing or mounting unit 38 includes a socket base 46 in which the photo-cell 41 is seated, the base being secured toy a cross-plate 48 Which is hinged, as at 50 (Fig. 4), to a cross-strap 52 attached to the rails 36 by any suitable means, preferably spot welding, the rails 36 having for this purpose if desired, oppositely disposed and inwardly turned ears or edge portions 54 to provide adequate contact surface for the bottom face of the strap 52. Cross-plate 48 may be tilted in a vertical direction about the axis of the hinge 50 to adjust the position of the photo-cell and its active element relative to the average level of the light gun, and the right-hand or outer extremity of this plate 48 as seen in Fig. 4 is provided with a set screw 49 threadably engageable with an angle 5I attached to one of the rails 36.

At the side adjacent the inner Wall of the partition I8, the cell base 46 has a vertically extending front shield plate 56, provided at its vertical edge portions with a pair of opposite edge flanges 51 adapted to t at their lower extremities against the vertical side wall portions of the socket base 46, and to be secured to the latter by welding or other desired means. The shield plate 56 is also provided with an elongated vertical Window or slot 58 which is positioned opposite the active element of the photo-cell, and extending toward the target disc and into the slot I9 of the partition, is a cylindrical shield 6I!A axially aligned with the approximate center of the photo-cell element and secured to the shield 56 by means of a pair of diverged ears 6I fitted into slots adjacent the vertical extremities of the shield slot 58 in the shield 56. 'I'he partition slot or window I9 is so dimensioned that as the rails 36 pivot about the pins 46, the shield tube 6l) has adequate clearance as it reciprocates vertically in the slot I9 and extends therethrough with its axial extremities terminating immediately behind the target disc I2, so that light passing through the latter may be directed along the axis of the cylindrical shield and onto the photo-cell.

It is desirable to provide the photo-cell with a cover plate 39 havinga lip 39' which hooks into the upper lateral edge of the front or shield plate 56, thus assuring that any extraneous light will not excite the cell.

Means for reciprocating the photo-cell includes a pair of spaced, driven arms 66, pivoted at one extremity on a bracket 6'I attached to the inner sideof the partition I8, and having at their opposite extremities a roller 68 supported on a pin 69 between the arms, and also having a depending guide finger 10'. Intermediate the extremities of the rails 66 is an adjustable link comprising a pair of longitudinally expansible arms 'II and 12, provided with set screws I3 'extending through longitudinal slots 'I4 in the bar I2 and into the bar or arm 1I to clamp the two arms into a desired extended relation, the upper extremity of this expansble link being pivotally connected as at 'I5 to drive armv44 on the rails 36. A

As seen in Figs. 2 and 5 particularly, the disc shaft 20 carries a driving cam I6 rotatable with the shaft and having its peripheral cam track or edge engageable with the roller 68 on the driven arm 66, with the depending guide finger 'I0 bearing against the surface of the cam plate to assure thatthe roller will not be dislodged from driving engagement with the lower portion of the cam track.

The target mechanism also includes a score indicating mechanism in the form of a plurality of lights 80, aligned in a channel-shaped lamp housing 82 extended horizontally across the housing, and attached to the walls thereof by means of brackets 83 as seen in Fig. 2, the open side of the channel or lamp housing confronting the transparent panel II of the target structure so that each lamp is positioned behind an indicium character painted or otherwise provided on the panel along with the scenic background matter delineated thereon. When any of the lights are illuminated, the corresponding score indicating number behind which that particular lamp is placed will be visible on the panel I I.

'Ihe several lamps 80 may be illuminated in sequential order by means of a commutator switch 84 (Fig.v 5), having a plurality of fixed contacts 85 and a movable contact arm 86 rotated in steps by a suitable ratchet mechanism driven by a driving solenoid 81 from an initial and non-indicating position to an advanced score indicating position, and releasable for return from advanced position to normal position by means of a reset solenoid 88, the plunger of which is attached to a reset arm 89 which is pivotable by the solenoid to release the movable contact arm 86 for return movement toward initial position under the urgence of its reset spring which is energized when the switch is stepped into advanced position.

The commutator switch mechanism does not form a part of the present invention per se, and is therefore not described in detail, any suitable electrically driven stepping switch being optional in the circuit. However, it may be indicated that the advancing solenoid 81 is energized through a circuit controlled by the photo-electric cell 41, whereas the reset solenoid may be controlled by a coin operated switch (not shown).

An amplifier 90 is adapted to operate a relay 92 by impulses received from the photo-cell 41- through a flexible conductor cable 9| interconnecting the photo-cell and the amplifier input, and the relay 92 controls the energization of the relay 8l through its relay switch 93.

In the operation of the device, the motor 34 is energized from any suitable source of electric power, thus driving the shaft 3|] through the speed reducer 32 and rotating the worm 28, which in turn drives thegear 26 on shaft 20. Thus both the target disc I2 and the cam I6 are rotated in step, so that each of the several target characters lor ducks I4 are periodically brought into view from behind the background scenery on the transparent panel II and before the View of the marksman. As the disc rotates the cam 'I6 likewise rotates, and the cam track thereof isso formed or evolved that the supporting arms or rails 36 for the photo-cell housing 38 are pivoted about the pin 40 through the agency of the driven arm, 66 and its connecting link lI-'I2 with the rails 36 as the roller 68 rides around the cam. Thus the photo-cell housing 38 recip rocates along a substantially vertical line, and the formation of the cam is such that as each of the apertures I4', I 5', etc. .of the several target characters approaches a critical position before the slot or window I1, the small aperture or window 58 in the photocell shield 56 will likewise have assumed a critical position relative to the particular aperture or light-transmitting area of the particular target character in position at the moment.

In theembodiment shown for example in Fig. 3, it may be said that there is only one position in which the photo-cell may be excited by a ash from the gun, and that position corresponds in the illustration to the instant when the window 58 of the photo-cell housing is substantially in alignment'with the center of the light opening inthe target character.

It should be further observed, however, that the light-slit or window 58 in the cell housing is elongated in the direction of travel in the housing, and this slit may be so dimensioned relative to the size and shape of the opening in the target character that as the cell housing, and consequently the light window, moves upwardly or downwardly along its substantially linear vertical path, the cell may be exposed to a light flash for a greater or shorter length of time as may be desired.

To illustrate the varying positions and dimensional characteristics of the light openings such as I4', it will be observed that the opening i5 in the duck l5 is directed along a different axis from either the opening I4 or I6' in the adjacent target characters, while the opening l1' is differentA both in dimension and shape from the others. The period of time in which a hit may be scored when shooting at the target I1, is appreciably shorter and requires a more critical aim than that for the other three targets, it being observed that the opening is not only differently shaped but is less than half the area of the other openings.

A further advantage of the relatively movable targets and photo-cell lies in the fact that the light window in the housing may be substantially constricted for the purpose of excluding as much extraneous light as possible, while at the same time exposing the active elements of the cell to a maximum area of the light ash from the gun r as the window 58 moves along its critical path,

and as illustrated particularly in the showing of Fig. 3. In short, while the light opening before the photo-cell is small, yet the relative movement of the cell and the target together with the particular dimensioning of the light opening and the formation of the cam as it effects the reciprocatory movement of the cell support, may be regulated between wide limits to give a relatively long period of time in which the photocell is in striking position or view, or the apparatus may be regulated with respect to speed of movement and size of opening in such manner that the cell will sweep across the light pervious area very rapidly, resulting in only a very brief instant during which the cell may be struck. Likewise, the: shape of the opening may be arranged so that diiering areas of each target character may be the effective scoring or vulnerable regions.

When the marksman succeeds in accurately fixing his gun upon the target character and causing a light flash to impinge upon the photocell 41, the amplifier 9!) is actuated and in turn the relay 92 energized to close its switch 93, thereby energizing the winding of the solenoid 8l from a main power source so as to step the movable Contact arm 86 (Figs. 5 and 7) in advancing movement over one of the contacts 85 for each hit scored, until a predetermined number of shots have been taken and the apparatus is deenergized or otherwise automatically rendered inoperative by suitable mechanism. The next user of the machine, by deposit of a coin or operation of a similar releasing or controlling instrumentality, may energize the solenoid 88 and trip the arm 89 to release the movable contact arm 86 for movement under its return spring back to initial position, thus extinguishing any or all of the several lamps 80 which may have been illuminated when the marksman scored.

It will be apparent that various modifications and arrangements may be made in the embodiment shown herein for illustrative purposes, and it will be apparent that the specic mechanisms and relationship of parts herein recited are representative of only one of the numerous manners in which the invention may be carried out, and

we therefore do not desire to be restricted to the.

and said photo-sensitive device inl timed relation so as to position the photo-sensitive device in operative registration with the light-penetrable area of the target character.

2. In an electric shooting gallery, a rotatable target member having a target character thereon, the said character having a light-penetrable region, means behind said target member for reciprocably supporting and moving a photosensitive device in a direction substantially radial to the axis of rotation of said target member, means for reciprocating said last-mentioned photo-sensitive supporting and moving means and rotating said target member in synchronism whereby to position said photo-sensitive device periodically in relation with said light-sensitive region to receive light .through the latter.

3. In an electric shooting gallery, a rotatable target disc having a target region thereon and the said region having a light-penetrable portion, a pivotally mounted arm behind said disc and having a photo-sensitive device thereon, the said photo-sensitive device being movable in a direction substantially radial to the axis of rotation of said disc whereby to cause said pho-tosensitive device to move in a direction substantially across the path of movement of said lightpenetrable portion, power driven means for rotating said disc and reciprocating said pivotally supported arm in timed relation whereby the said photo-sensitive device may be registered with said light-penetrable area to receive light from the latter when the said target area on the target disc reaches a predetermined position.

4. In a target mechanism, a movable target member having a target character with a lightpenetrable area, power-driven means for moving said target member whereby said lightpenetrable area ymay be brought periodically into a determined position, a pivoted member behind said target member and having a photosensitive device movable by pivotation of said member into and out of light-receiving registration with said light-penetrable area, and means including a cam member rotatable by said for operation by instrumentalities controlled by said device when the same is struck by light.

5. In an electric target apparatus, a support, a driven shaft extended through said support, a moving target member rotatably carried on said shaft and having a target character with a light-penetrable area thereon, said support having an elongated opening extended in a direction substantially radial to said shaft, an arm pivotally mounted on said support and having a portion movable endWise of said elongated opening, photo-sensitive means on said pivoted member and movable with the latter relative to said elongated opening, power-means controlled by said photo-sensitive device, indicating means operable by said power means under control of said photo-sensitive device, a driving member on said shaft, and means linking said driving member and said pivoted member for reciprocation of the latter when said shaft and said target member are moved, the said driving member being adapted to drive said pivotable member in a manner to position said photo-sensitive device relative to the said light-penetrable area in the moving target member in timedl relation as said target member is moved.

6. In an electric shooting gallery, a driven shaft, a target disc carried by and rotatable with said shaft, the said disc having a lightpenetrable area thereon, means behind said disc pivotally supporting a photo-sensitive device for movement into and out of light-receiving position relative to said light-penetrable area, indieating means operably controlled by said photosensitive device, and means for moving said photo-sensitive device into and out of lightreceiving position relative to said light-penetrable area as said disc is rotated, said means including an eccentric device rotatable by said shaft and having driving connection with said means pivotally supporting said photo-sensitive device.

7. Electric target mechanism including a rotatablertarget disc having a plurality of ylightpenetrable areas of varying size and shape, driving means for rotating said disc, means movably supporting a photo-sensitive device behind said disc for reciprocatory movement in a direction across the path of movement of said light-penetrable areas when said disc is rotated, said means including a cam driven by said driving means when said disc is rotated, and having driving connection with said means movably supporting said photo-sensitive device whereby the latter may be moved in timed relation to the rotation of said disc in a manner to momentarily position said photo-sensitive device in light-receiving relation with the said light-receiving areas in the disc so that light may be directed upon said photo-sensitive device at a particular instant.

BRUNO RADTKE. EARL GOSSWILLER. 

